Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Learning to Play an Instrument and How to Avoid Them

Everyone thinks learning how to play an instrument is easy and that this doesn’t require any special talents. This is usually the first mistake they make. Do you want to become a musician or simply want to learn to play an instrument for personal fun and entertainment but don’t know where to start? Go step-by-step and gather all the information you need to avoid some common mistakes people usually make and ensure great outcomes. Be aware that you’re a beginner in this, and don’t avoid some steps thinking that you’re not going to need them, as you won’t see any improvements.

They Don’t Choose the Right Instrument

One of the first mistakes beginners make is choosing the instrument for them. Not every instrument is suitable for every person. If you have in mind a certain instrument you would like to play, make sure you know everything a beginner needs to know about it. For example, instruments like the guitar are great for beginners, however, some other instruments like the piano, violin, and drums can be a bit difficult because they require different and more active body use. If you want to learn how to play drums, you need to be ready to use your body as much as you can, as you have to be prepared for full-body coordination and use both your hands and feet independently.

Keep in Mind That You’re a Beginner

At first, everyone thinks they won’t have any problems learning to play an instrument and think they can skip some beginner’s steps. Don’t make this mistake, as you’ll only waste time and won’t achieve anything. Don’t rush, and take as much time as you need to learn the basics. Learning to play an instrument can be a great alternative for overcoming unhealthy habits and changing your lifestyle. Keep in mind that your posture and hand positioning are not just something that will come naturally, but you have to take some time to learn this. Rhythm is everything in this process; you can learn the notes and everything else, but can have problems because you don’t have the rhythm. Don’t give up thinking that instruments aren’t for you just because you need more time to learn these basic things; just be patient.

Get the Right Material and Tutor

You can’t just learn to play an instrument on your own. You need to be really careful when choosing the right material, as you need to find something for the beginners, something simple you can follow and understand. Thanks to technology, you can find all the material you need online. For example, you no longer have to look for physical material, as you can even find sheet music online, download it, and use it later on. You have many options for solo instruments or various combinations. Find the suitable material and go for more complex as your skills improve.

Practice Is Everything 

You can magically wake up one day and be a professional. You have to be prepared for regular and long practice because this is what makes you better every time. Don’t be one of those people who spend almost the whole day practicing and then don’t practice for days, as this way you ruin everything you have learned so far. If you find a tutor, don’t skip the practice with them and always follow their advice, as they can realize what the best pace for you is. Also, don’t try to rush the process, thinking that you’ll learn everything better by overwhelming yourself and rushing the process, as this is not the case.

Go Slow

When they learn to play some music, people usually focus more on how fast they can play, rather than playing slower but getting all the notes right. This is a common mistake, so make sure to focus more on the notes, and don’t be bothered by how fast you play. Start slow and increase the speed once you’re sure you can achieve that pace. This is how your accuracy will progress.

Maintain the Instrument

The instrument is as important as the practice. To be able to play it properly, you need to tune the instrument the right way. If you don’t know how to do this, look for professional help. Maintain the instrument, and make sure to follow the advice on how to keep the instrument in the best condition. Regularly tune the instrument if you want to develop a good ear for harmony and continue with the practice in the best way.

Be Patient

Patience is the most crucial characteristic you need when learning to play an instrument because nothing happens overnight, and there will be days when you’ll feel like everything is pointless and that you don’t see any improvements, however, this is just your own opinion and can depend on your mood at that particular moment. Don’t give up, ensure you maintain motivation and patience, and you’ll soon see great improvements. Set realistic goals, let these goals be small, achievable ones, rather than big goals you won’t be able to achieve. If you find a tutor, keep in mind that they’re professionals and know whether you’re experiencing progress or not.

Practice Your Ear

Instruments aren’t only played by reading music, they’re played by recognizing notes and melodies by ear. That’s how some musicians can recognize if there are some mistakes in the music. Make sure to practice your ear, and this is usually done by listening to music often and focusing on melodies fully. You can also find some exercises online, so don’t skip this step because you’ll never be able to recognize the melodies with your ear.

Playing an instrument offers many benefits, and music is generally good for your mental welfare. However, when you’re a beginner and want to learn to play an instrument, you can expect a long and difficult process because this requires much practice and can be overwhelming. Be patient, don’t give up, and go step-by-step as negligence of any step can ruin or slow down the progress, and you’ll have to spend much more time on practicing than you would have expected.